Eternally Regressing Knight - Chapter 56: A Wall Is a Wall
“Think of it like stretching your muscles, brother.”
Audin’s method for training the body with bare hands focused on breaking down and extending each muscle individually.
“Ugh.”
A groan escaped Encrid’s mouth. The muscles behind his thighs were stretched to the point where they felt like they would snap. On top of that, Audin had climbed onto Encrid’s bent back, adding more pressure.
With his hands stretched out toward his toes while seated, Encrid spoke.
“Die.”
“Is that a threat?”
“I’m the one who’s going to die.”
His voice came out as a barely audible whisper. It really felt like his muscles were going to tear apart. If he just took a few more breaths, he might actually pass out!
It was only when Encrid was teetering on the edge of his limits that Audin finally released the pressure from his back.
“This is just the basics.”
Audin kept repeating the word *basics* several times.
They did various stretches, from bending one leg inward to press on the pelvic muscles, to twisting their torsos while holding onto a post, bending at the waist, and stretching out their bodies.
Stretch, twist, and squeeze the body.
Yes, *squeeze* was the perfect word.
It felt like wringing out a wet cloth. After twisting and squeezing the body like that, sweat drenched Encrid completely.
Was this really training, or was it torture?
If the basics were this tough, then what would the advanced level be—dismantling a person?
Though his mind wandered to odd thoughts like these, the conclusion was clear: the exercises Audin had taught were incredibly effective.
While they were painful while doing them, Encrid’s body felt much lighter afterward.
No, it wasn’t just that.
His body was filled with warmth. His heart pounded, sending heat coursing through his entire body, making the cold much more bearable.
“Eat well, rest well, and move well. That’s how you endure the cold, squad leader.”
Audin smiled brightly as he spoke.
Encrid nodded. Body training was already a part of his daily routine.
And the physical strain only made his mind work sharper.
As his tightened mind continued to think, he recalled the assassin who had come to kill him.
‘That technique.’
He hadn’t even been able to see how the throwing knife was launched.
Encrid prided himself on his throwing knife skills as well.
‘But there’s no comparison.’
The assassin’s skill was remarkable. However, as long as he prepared, it wouldn’t be an issue.
The first pattern was a direct stab.
If that failed, the assassin would throw the knife.
‘It’s more like a thin, short wall.’
The ferryman of the Black River had spoken of walls appearing in front of Encrid.
‘If it’s like this.’
It was easy. That’s why he felt so relaxed.
“Look here! Is this hard? Really?”
Out of nowhere, Rem, excited, jumped off his bed and mimicked one of Encrid’s movements.
He moved smoothly, without any difficulty. Watching his fully extended body, it was clear that he had exceptional flexibility.
“Let’s work on your flexibility, alright?”
Damn, this guy was strangely annoying. No, Rem was always annoying.
“Is this really hard? This?”
Rem continued to pester him, but Encrid cheerfully ignored him. Half-closed eyes observed the scene as Raguna, who had been watching, finally moved.
He, too, was naturally gifted when it came to using his body.
It was obvious that to surpass a certain level in swordsmanship, one had to master controlling their body.
Naturally, Raguna perfectly replicated the movements. He specifically picked the difficult moves that Encrid had struggled with, like spreading his legs and bending his waist, just to spite him. Raguna was annoying in his own way.
“Have you taken up a new hobby of contorting your body?”
Jaxson, who had just returned from leave, entered the room, looking at them as if they were a bunch of lunatics.
Encrid, drenched in sweat, tried to catch his breath.
In front of him, a grinning wild man was bent over, holding his toes with his hands, and beside him, a lazy bum was sitting with his legs spread wide.
Had everyone lost their minds?
“We’re training to withstand the cold, brother.”
Audin explained the situation. Jaxson, uninterested, sidestepped them and headed to his spot.
Encrid stood up, as it was almost time for him to go on duty. Out of pure curiosity, he opened his mouth.
The assassin’s throwing knife had an unfamiliar design.
“Have you ever used a knife shaped like this? For throwing.”
“What kind?”
“No.”
“No, I haven’t, brother.”
He was describing a throwing knife without a handle.
Rem, Raguna, and Audin answered, while Krys, of course, remained silent. But Jaxson’s brow furrowed for a moment, then relaxed.
“Where did you see something like that?”
“I didn’t. I’m just about to.”
“Did it have a round groove near the hilt?”
Jaxson, still standing, asked while holding his coat, ready to hang it up.
“Yeah.”
Encrid didn’t even have to think about it. That was exactly what the knife that pierced him earlier today looked like.
“Why do you ask?” Rem asked as he crawled back into his bed.
“Just something I’ve heard.”
As Jaxson turned to leave, a black panther with blue eyes emerged from Encrid’s bed.
The same panther that had snuggled into his arms last night was finally awake.
It must’ve really loved the bed and sleeping because it immediately shivered as it stood up, stretching its body from front to back. Encrid, watching, stroked the panther’s back from its head to the tip of its tail. Just then, Jaxson spoke again.
“Stay clear of it if you can. That’s a Whistle Dagger.”
“A Whistle Dagger?”
It was the first time he’d heard the name.
“It’s called that because of the sound it makes when thrown. It’s a weapon commonly used for assassinations. Hard to master, but if you meet someone who can use it properly… well, run.”
As always, Jaxson’s tone was cold but kind.
The problem was what he said.
Run away?
Just from a guy who knows how to throw a few knives?
The panther purred contentedly, enjoying Encrid’s strokes.
When Krys tried to pet it, the panther immediately bared its fangs menacingly.
“Oh, alright, alright.”
If Krys came any closer, it looked like it might bite him.
At first, Encrid worried that the panther might hurt one of the squad members, but he soon dismissed that concern.
No matter how agile the panther was, it couldn’t possibly take down someone like Rem or the other squad members.
As long as Krys was careful, there wouldn’t be any issues. Besides, the panther was clearly quite intelligent.
After spending a few days with it, Encrid realized there wouldn’t be any problems.
While gently petting the panther’s head, Encrid spoke.
“Don’t be too harsh on him. I’ll be back after my shift.”
Encrid stood up.
“Keep doing the barehanded exercises. They’ll help, brother.”
Audin didn’t say what exactly they’d help with, but it wasn’t hard to figure out.
What was the one thing Encrid was always deeply absorbed in?
The sword.
It was clear that this would help his swordsmanship.
“He’s not wrong.”
Rem nodded. Raguna and Jaxson followed suit.
They always reacted seriously when it came to Encrid.
It was fascinating. These guys normally didn’t care about much of anything.
Encrid stepped out of the barracks for his duty.
He had thought of the repeated day as relatively easy, but Jaxson’s words had complicated his thoughts.
*Run? Avoid it?*
With his current skills?
Even if he fought head-on?
He should’ve asked more about it.
No, he’d find out soon enough.
The price would be his life and today.
But he would gain something in return.
It wouldn’t be in vain.
Even though Encrid had faced countless deaths, he never let any day go to waste.
Even if there was a day sacrificed for a purpose.
In those moments, he still tried to gain something, anything, from it.
That instinct, born from the endless repetition of today, whispered to him.
That strange, mixed-blood elven assassin wasn’t going to be easy.
“Hey, high-ranking Destruction Sorcerer soldier!”
The assassin looked just like before. He showered Encrid with praise, trying to make the atmosphere more relaxed.
If Encrid didn’t know better, it might have worked.
But now that he did, he could see through the assassin’s intentions. Over-the-top compliments to make him overconfident, softening the tension to catch him off guard.
‘He’s pretty thorough when you think about it.’
And this level of care, just for a mere foot soldier?
A perfectionist, perhaps?
As he pondered the assassin’s personality, recalling the half-elven face, he arrived at the marketplace.
“There sure are a lot of people.”
Jack grinned beside him. Bo, on the other side, closed the distance between them.
“Yeah.”
As Encrid answered, a figure in rags approached from the front. Suddenly, the person flung their arms out to the sides
.
Thud!
Once again, Jack got hit while Bo dodged.
Encrid swiftly twisted his body to the side.
His body had stiffened from the cold, but Audin’s exercises had helped.
His body was less stiff than it had been during the first “today.”
Before he had time to draw his sword, Encrid grabbed Bo by the collar, and Bo instinctively threw a punch.
With the courage from the Heart of the Beast, Encrid watched the trajectory of the punch and predicted it, tilting his head to dodge.
The fist barely grazed his ear. After that, it was Encrid’s turn.
He tightened his grip on Bo’s collar, twisting and choking him.
“Gurk!”
Bo groaned.
“Huff.”
Encrid took a short breath, then swung Bo around, planning to use him as a shield.
Even though Bo wasn’t heavy, an adult man in armor still weighed quite a bit.
Using the momentum of his waist, he swung Bo with centrifugal force.
As he pulled Bo closer, Encrid caught sight of the half-elven assassin throwing off his rags.
Their eyes met. The assassin seemed to mock him.
Why? In this situation, Encrid now had a human shield.
The assassin should have been the one panicking. After all, the assassination target had anticipated the ambush and reacted accordingly.
Yet, the half-elf remained calm. With a smirk, he lazily flicked his hand.
As soon as the assassin’s hand touched his chest, a flash of light streaked through the air. It was like lightning. The knife flew so fast that it was invisible to the naked eye.
The moment his hand hit his chest and flung the knife forward, it was already flying.
Before Bo could even be fully swung into place, the knife pierced right near Encrid’s heart.
*Whistle!*
The sound of the throwing knife reached his ears a split second later.
With a sharp thud, pain spread through Encrid’s body, confirming what had happened.
The assassin had thrown the knife, and it had pierced his heart.
“Damn.”
His instincts had been right.
This opponent was no joke. Just judging by the way he threw that knife, it was clear he wasn’t just some ordinary assassin.
So what if Encrid could stop him from throwing the knife?
Even with the knife lodged in his body, the people around them only saw a soldier struggling with two others.
“Let go of me!”
Bo shouted as he kicked Encrid in the stomach. The strength drained from Encrid’s hand. After taking a blow to the gut, Encrid released Bo’s collar.
A knife in the heart. There was no way he’d be okay. Blood gushed from his mouth as he doubled over.
As he fell to one knee, the half-elven assassin approached and spoke.
“You saw it coming, didn’t you? Was the acting that bad?”
There were screams all around them, but the assassin didn’t seem to care.
At that moment, it felt like there were only two people in the world: Encrid and the assassin.
“…Why?”
Encrid saved his last breath to ask. Despite the surrounding noise, the assassin heard him clearly.
“Why do you ask? Because I’m curious. It seemed like you knew and reacted accordingly.”
Encrid gave a faint nod and gathered the last of his strength to respond.
“Your acting was terrible. Even a stray dog would’ve laughed.”
The elf nodded and lazily flicked his hands again.
Thwack.
Two daggers flew at close range.
Encrid could see the tips of the blades embedded in Jack and Bo’s foreheads.
The two deep grooves marked them as Whistle Daggers.
“Uh, uh…”
“W-what…”
Neither could finish their sentences as they fell backward with a thud.
The half-elf stopped there.
Encrid knew that Roton was nearby. But Roton didn’t engage in situations like this.
He was probably hiding somewhere.
The half-elf assassin hadn’t killed Roton. But who knew? Maybe he would chase after him once this was over.
Either way, it had nothing to do with Encrid.
“A relentless lover never lets his prey go.”
The assassin’s words made Encrid nod.
“True enough.”
“You’re not surprised?”
“Should I be?”
“Hmm, most people would be.”
Sorry, but this is already the third time.
Instead of showing surprise, Encrid grabbed the knife sticking out of his chest and pulled it out.
*Squish.*
As the dagger that had pierced his heart was removed, a wave of excruciating pain washed over him.
Blood gushed from the gaping wound in his chest.
As his vision quickly blurred, the assassin spoke.
“You’re a strange one.”
Yeah, you think?
‘I’ll show you something even stranger.’
Encrid thought as he closed his eyes.
In the darkness, he once again saw the ferryman.
“Heh, heh.”
Without saying a word, the ferryman laughed at him. He seemed to be having a good time. Encrid couldn’t see his eyes, nose, or mouth, nor his body clearly, but the feeling that the ferryman conveyed was unmistakable.
The ferryman’s laughter was short-lived. Darkness fell once more, only to give way to a new morning.
—
“Good morning.”
Encrid jumped out of bed, grabbed Audin, and quickly went over the stretches he had learned before. As soon as Jaxson returned, Encrid grabbed his sleeve and pulled him outside.
Jaxson almost pushed Encrid away on instinct but stopped when he realized it was his squad leader.
“Huh? Where are you going?”
Rem asked from behind.
“I need to ask something.”
Jaxson, known for the principle of equivalent exchange, surprisingly knew a lot. Krys might know common information, but for truly important matters, it was Jaxson you needed to go to.
The nickname “Jaxson of Equivalent Exchange” came from the fact that he also dealt in information.
He’d give you what you wanted, but only if you gave him something in return.
“You know about Whistle Daggers, right?”
Jaxson frowned.
“Where did you hear about that?”
Judging from Jaxson’s reaction, Encrid knew that the Whistle Dagger wasn’t an ordinary weapon.
“Tell me about it. Whistle Daggers.”
“…Is this a trade?”
At that moment, Jaxson was no longer his squad member but Jaxson of Equivalent Exchange.
“Yeah.”
The price didn’t matter. The conversation would disappear once today reset.
And even if tomorrow came, he could always repay the debt.
He simply realized that this fourth attempt wasn’t enough to overcome the wall before him, and with that, he had a feeling this conversation would be forgotten.
A wall is a wall. It’s never easy to overcome.
The ferryman’s mocking laugh seemed to echo, turning into words he could almost hear.